India vs Australia Day 4, Second Test: Statistical Review

India snatched an incredible victory on day 4 of the second Test against Australia at Bengaluru. India began the day on their overnight score of 213/4 and made 274 runs before getting bundled out. They put up a target of 188 runs for Australia to win this Test.

In reply, Australia were bowled out for just 112 runs as India won this Test by 75 runs.

With this victory, hosts India leveled the 4-match Test series by 1-1.

During India’s second innings, Indian batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane put up an important partnership of 118 runs for the 5th wicket. It is India’s 2nd highest fifth wicket partnership in their second innings of a Test match against Australia. The record is for 376 runs partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman (at Kolkata in 2001).

Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood bowled superbly during India’s second innings. His final bowling figures in that innings were 24-5-67-6. It was the 6th time when an Australian pacer picked up 6 or more wickets in a Test innings on the Indian soil. The other Australian pacers who achieved that feat earlier were: Ray Lindwall, Alan Davidson, Graham McKenzie (twice) and Geoff Dymock.

Chasing down the target of 188 runs, Australia were bowled out for just 112 runs. It is the 4th lowest completed Test total for Australia on the Indian soil. The top 3 lowest completed total in this list are 93 (in Mumbai in 2004), 105 (at Kanpur in 1959) and 107 (at Delhi in 1969).

Also during this (112 runs) innings at Bengaluru Test, Australia played only 35.4 overs which is the second fewest overs played by Australia in their completed Test innings against India (in overall). The fewest overs played by Australia in this list is 30.5 overs at Mumbai in 2004.

Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin bowled exceptionally well during Australia’s second innings as his final bowling figure in that innings was 12.4-4-41-6. It is the best bowling figure by an Indian bowler against Australia in the 4th innings of a Test match. The previous record was 6/52 by Bhagwath Chandrasekhar (at Melbourne in 1977).

Meanwhile, the previous best bowling figures by an Indian bowler against Australia in the 4th innings of a home Test match was 6/73 by Harbhajan Singh (at Kolkata in 2001).

During this Test match, total 4 different bowlers picked up 6 or more wickets each in an innings. These bowlers are Nathan Lyon (8/50), Ravindra Jadeja (6/63), Josh Hazlewood (6/67) and Ravichandran Ashwin (6/41). It is the first time when more than 3 different bowlers picked up 6 or more wickets each in an innings of a Test match.

On the other hand, it was the third time when 6 or more wickets were taken by a bowler in each innings of a Test match. The first two incidents occurred more than 100 years ago. Previous those two Test matches were: England vs Australia at The Oval in 1896 and Australia vs England at Melbourne in 1902.

India put 188 runs target for Australia in the 4th innings to win the match, however finally India manages to successfully defend the total. It is the joint 3rd lowest target on the Indian soil which is defended successfully and India was the defending team in all these matches. The other top 3 in this list are 107 (against Australia at Mumbai in 2004), 170 (against South Africa at Ahmedabad in 1996) and 188 (against New Zealand at Brabourne Stadium, Mumbai in 1969).

On the day’s play, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin completed his 200 Test wickets at home. He took total 59 Test innings to achieve this feat which is the fastest (according to the no. of Test innings) for a bowler to complete 200 Test wickets at home. The previous record holder was former Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan who had achieved that feat in 61 Test innings.

Sportzwiki is one of the fastest growing sports websites in India, Asia and in the world. It is a sports website to connect you to all the latest happenings in the world of sports with news and opinion based articles from various sports.